Tell me about yourself and why you created a team to run/walk Laura’s Smile Mile.

My name is Marie Wierzbinski. I am a 21-year-old advertising/PR student at UW-Milwaukee. I created Shmiles for Shmom for my mom, Kris Wierzbinski, who was diagnosed with late Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer in February of 2011. She underwent almost immediate surgery and started her weekly chemotherapy treatments after recovery. She finished chemo in late 2012, only to recently find out her cancer is back. Shmiles for Shmom developed as a way for her friends and family to come and show their support and inspire her to keep moving forward.

What is the story behind the name your team name?

When I was in high school, the trend was to put “Shm” in front of everyone’s name. I started calling my mom, “Shmom,” and the nickname stuck ever since. The team name, Shmiles for Shmom, is arranged in the shape of an Angora goat. My mom has been raising angora goats for a little over 10 years now. She is known by friends and family as “the goat lady.”

How many people will be participating with the team ? Will you be doing something special like team t-shirts, signs,etc.?

Right now, Shmiles for Shmom has about 35 members, but I am expecting numbers around 50. We are doing team shirts with the Shmiles for Shmom goat design. I am also putting together a barbeque afterwards for the team to come and visit a little more with each other.